James Wolfensohn recently replied to an NGO letter of last summer requesting clarification of what the Bank planned to do to implement a human rights agenda.
Human rights
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Bank President reply on human rights
James Wolfensohn recently replied to an NGO letter of last summer requesting clarification of what the Bank planned to do to implement a human rights agenda. Wolfensohn said he recently met the newly appointed UN High Commissioner for Human Rights and reiterated that "continued dialogue with human rights groups as well as with governments and other stakeholders is quite important to the Bank". Yet the letter did little to take forward this dialogue, making vague references to collaboration in Po
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UK ministers urged to clarify position on Baku-Ceyhan pipeline
Following a visit to the UK by activists from Azerbaijan, Georgia and Turkey UK groups have sent relevant UK ministers a memorandum outlining 10 sets of issues, including assessment, consultation and compensation as well as corruption, debt and legal issues. They are demanding a response before the IFC takes a decision to move the project into its decision-making cycle (posted 18 Nov. 02).
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Human rights: little progress
The Bank is taking a softly-softly approach to human rights despite announcements earlier in the year that it wanted to clarify its position.
Rights
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The World Bank at the World Summit: Green, Marxist or unchanged?
The World Bank has been very active at the Johannesburg summit.
Rights
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Turkish oil project raises human rights, governance concerns
An agreement between oil multinationals and the government of Turkey for an IFC-backed pipeline exempts the companies from obligations under Turkish law that may threaten the project’s profits, including environmental, social and human rights legislation.
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Bank inspectors find fault with Chad Cameroon pipeline project
The Bank’s own Inspection Panel has backed many of the complaints by non-governmental organizations about a major oil pipeline in West Africa.
Rights
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UN report urges greater IMF and WB accountability
The United Nations Development Programme’s Human Development Report 2002 has called for more democracy and accountability of international financial institutions.
Rights
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IFIs must respect human rights
The World Bank and the IMF are bound by obligations enshrined in international human rights covenants, and must incorporate human rights considerations in the formulation and review of their Poverty Reduction Strategy Papers (PRSPs).
Infrastructure
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Nigerians condemn IFC collaboration with Shell
IFC plans for a joint project with the Shell oil company in Nigeria have been condemned by Niger Delta-based community organisations and international human rights groups.
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